Description:
The Plant & Operations Manager is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence across manufacturing functions. This position oversees day-to-day production activities, manages team performance, and implements lean processes to optimize throughput, quality, and cost efficiency in a high-mix, low-volume environment typical of custom-engineered vehicles.The ideal candidate will possess deep experience in manufacturing operations and lean management within the automotive or heavy-duty vehicle sector. The Plant & Operations Manager will act as a cross-functional leader, aligning with engineering, quality, and supply chain teams to meet production and customer delivery goals.
This role includes full oversight of plant-level operations, including infrastructure, facilities, and production systems, with accountability for uptime, layout efficiency, and operational readiness for new product launches. The manager will ensure all plant activities are aligned with corporate strategic goals, regulatory compliance, and performance metrics.
Key Responsibilities
Lead daily operations across assigned production areas, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are met or exceeded. Develop and manage high-performing teams, instilling accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement culture. Oversee production planning, resource allocation, and capacity management to support short- and long-term business goals. Drive and support Lean initiatives including Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, and Continuous Improvement to increase operational efficiency. Collaborate with engineering and quality teams to identify root causes of issues and implement robust corrective actions. Analyse key performance indicators (KPIs) including unit hour performance, quality metrics, and budget adherence to identify trends and improvement areas. Facilitate communication and alignment between shifts, departments, and senior leadership to ensure smooth operational execution. Lead initiatives that enhance workplace safety and comply with environmental, health, and safety regulations. Champion change management processes and lead teams through transformational projects with resilience and engagement. Oversee and continuously improve plant infrastructure including facilities, equipment, utilities, layout design, and maintenance programs to ensure operational reliability and readiness. Ensure compliance with U.S. regulatory standards including OSHA, EPA, and local building and environmental codes. Lead production system improvements, including MES and ERP integration for enhanced scheduling, tracking, and operational visibility. Manage preparation and ramp-up for new production lines, vehicle model changes, or capacity expansions as part of ongoing p
22 Jul 2025;
from:
gumtree.co.za